Floor safe



Feb. 16, 1954 w R. H. CAMPBELL FLOOR SAFE 2 Sheets-Sheef. 1

Filed Dec. 26, 1947 f5; le V25 a ./25 ////,1J

Feb. 16, 1954 R. H. CAMPBELL FLOOR SAFE Filed DeC. 26, 1947.. y

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvE'NT'R lsx HCH/Waal. BY

ATTQRNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Walter P. Ross and one-half to Robert Q. Bramlet, both of Oakland, Calif.

Application December 26, 1947, Serial No. 793,773

i l The invention relates to a safe or vault unit. An object is to provide a safe of the character described having a locking means which will maintain the safe in locked condition even though the exposed and externally accessible bolt control elements are rendered inoperative or are removed. v f

A further object is to provide generally im proved locking devices for safes of the character described.

Another object of the invention is to provide safe units of the character described which are kparticularly arranged for flush installation in floors, or Walls, and particularly those of business establishments, for the safe-keeping of money and other valuables.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following descriptions of typical embodiments thereof, and in the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

Figure l is a perspective and broken-away showing of the receptacle portion of a safe embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of a removable door for the safe.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a flush cove!1 plate for the receptacle of Figure l.

Figure 4 is an underneath face View of the door of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an edge and partly sectional view of the closure door.

Figure 6 is a partly sectional view of the door taken at the broken line 6-6 in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan section of the installed door, the view being taken at the plane of the line 1 1 in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an upright axial and broken-out sectional View of the complete safe assembly, with the door shown in full side elevation.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at the line 9-9 in Figure 1.

Figure l is a fragmentary and perspective View of the container portion of another embodiment of the safe.'

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a key-locked door for use with the container of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an inner side view of the safe door of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is an upright axial sectional view of the present safeV having its door mounted on its container portion.

claims. (Cilaos- 59) Figure 15 is a section of the door taken at the line |5-I5 in Figure 12.

The embodiment of my invention disclosed in Figures l to 9 inclusive comprises a straight-sided cylindrical receptacle or container Il arranged for permanent installation in a oor or wall, a door I8 for locked mounting at the access opening of the storage portion of the receptacle, and a cover plate I9 removably engaging the top of the receptacle I'I above the lockable door I8 and provided with a nger hole 29 centrally thereof for facilitating its removal and placement.` The receptacle Il comprises a cylindrical side wall 25| which extends from a base plate 22 to which it is integrally attached, as by Welding. The base plate 22 is preferably of polygonal outline to provide portions projecting beyond the wall 2 I for use in anchoring the container in its installed position; Figure 8 discloses the container a's embodied in a retaining body 23 of concrete, the top face 23 of said enclosing concrete body being flush with the top face of the mounted cover plate I 9.

.At a distance from its top which permits the supported installation of the cover I8 thereon below the mounted cover plate I9, a jamb portion of the receptacle wall 2| provides a flat annular door-supporting seat 24 dening the access opening for the storage space. In the present structure, the seat 24 comprises an intermediate and outwardly facing annular step provided in the container wall 2|, said wall being thicker beyond said seat. The present door I8 comprises a' generally cylindrical one-piece body member 25 which carries the locking mechanism and has ajradial ange extension 2B at its outer side for the flat engagement of its inner side with the seat 24 whereby the door is rotatable while engaging the seat and the remaining portion of tlie supported body 25 is arranged to extend inwardly of the plane of the seat 24, At its inner side, the door body 25 provides a radial flange 21, said ange being generally cooperative with the outer door flange 26 to define an annular groove 28 concentric with the body axis and of uniform width axially of the body.

Lugs 3| and 32 and 33 extend inwardly from the container Wall 2| below the seat 24, said lugs being spaced generally equally about the circle of the wall 2|. In the present structure the lugs 3| and 32 and 33 comprise legs of generally L- shaped elements having their other legs xed to the wan 2|, as by wading, and the thickness 0f the lugs axially of the container is slightly less than the axial width of the groove 28 whereby position in the groove 23.

the lugs may extend freely into said groove. Radial notches 34 and 35 and 33 extend inwardly from the periphery of the flange 21 in such an arrangement that the lugs 32 and 33 may simultaneously register with the notches 35 and 33 when the lug 3l registers with the notch 34, said notches dividing the lange into arcuate lug portions 31 and 38 and 39 extending beyond the cylinder of the door body. Circumferentially of the container, the lugs 3l and 32 and 33 are narrower than the respective notches whereby the cover I8 may be moved to or from its seat when, and only when, the lugs and notches are mutually registered in theindicated manner. As

particularly shown, the lugs 3l and 32 are rectangular, the lug 33 is generally triangular, the

notches 34 and 35 are arcuate with radial ends.. and the lug 33 is triangular and generallyu corncontainer, or be positioned to dispose the notches lbetween the lugs whereby the latter may cooperate with the door lugs 31 and 3-8 and33 to prevent a removal of the cover from its mounted position `in the container. In the present arrangement, the inner faces of the receptacle lugs 3| and 32 and 33 vare coplanar in a plane perpendicular to the container axis, and the outer 'faces of the door lugs 31 and 33 and 39 are coplanar in a plane perpendicular to the door axis; the arrangement is such that said planes are parallei `in close opposition when the door is seated in the receptacle.

Preferably, and as shown,'only a predetermined and vlimited rotation of the door i3 is permitted between its released and retained positions; in

the present structure stop elements 43 and 4l are fixed between the door flanges 23 and 21 in positions for their engagement by opposite sides of the door ear 3l to limit :the degree of `rotation of the mounted door'm 'between the position in which the door is removable and 'the position in which the door is locked in its operative position.

It will now be noted that lthe triangular lug 33 has one free edge 33 generally radial to the door circle while its other free edge 33" makes an acute angle with the edge 33 andlmay be cooperative with the outer end of a bolt 42 which is extendable into the groove .23 for variable distances in accordance with the disposal fof the lug 33 with respect thereto. As 4.particularly shown, the bolt 42 is of uniform cross-section and is slidable in a complementary bore v43 Which is provided vin the door body 25 and extends radially of the body inthe plane of the groove 28. The inner end of the bore 29 is closed and receives a compression spring 44 between its closed end and the inner end of the bolt'42 for constantly and yieldingly urging the latter to a limiting extended The notch'i of the bottom flange 21 of the cover vhas a radial side 36' and an oblique side 36", and the line of vthe bolt v42 is substantially at the point of intersection of the notch side 36" with the `circle of seat 24 will engage the outer bolt'endwith the Asloping lug edge 33 as a wedging'orcamming' face to progressively force back the bolt until the lug side 33 is reached and the bolt is freed for its spring-pressed extension behind the lug to prevent a return, and releasing, rotation of the cover. As the bolt 42 engages behind the lug edge 33', the stop 43 reaches the lug 3i for preventing a further rotation of the door, while a return movement of the unlocked door is limited by the engagement of the stop lil with the lug 3| to provide for the positioning of the door for its removal.

Noting that the bolt i2 is operative as a latch 'bolt with respect to the lug 33, means are provided for withdrawing the bolt against the rey sistance of the spring 44 when the installed door "is to be rotated to the position thereof which rpermits its removal as a closure for the container space, such a bolt-withdrawing means being unlder control solely of a person authorized to open the safe. As particularly shown, the bolt 42 is provided with a longitudinal 'and diametrical slot 42 near its inner end, andan upwardly extending `pin '45engages the slot for effecting an inoperative disposal of the 'bolt when desired. The pin 45 extends upwardly from an actuator member 46 mounted at the inner side of the door and through a slot 41 extending in the cover-body 25 from its inner end'to the bore 43 and in paralle'l relation to the bolt line. The actuatorllt has a limited movement toward the door edge from its pin-withdrawing position whereby it is cooperative with the inner-end of the bolt slot 42 -ing a circular dial 52 Yfor the appropriate reference of its number (or letter) indicia 33 to a reference mark 54 provided on ythe door. The connecting mechanism between the knob 5i and the actuator 46 is such that a pre-determined lsequence of settings of certain dial indicia 53 with respect tothe reference point 34 is arranged to connect the actuator'li with the knob'ror its displacement to effect a withdrawalofv-thelatch vbolt 42 upon an appropriate Arotative movement of the knob 5l. 4The connecting mechanism be- -tween the knob 15! and the actuator 46 may be that of any standard combination lock, isV :not itself a feature of Ypresent invention, and is therefore not further'shown it is to be particularly noted that thepin 45 extends axially pof. the door whereby a removal of the casing 49 which carries the lock mechanism at and beyond the inner door .side will disengage the pin from 'the bolt slot 42', and so make impossible a 'withdrawing of the bolt unless the actuator 46 is appropriately operated in Aits appointed position.

As shown, the vcombination lockndis dis-- posed toone side of the center of the door I8,

and a handle 55 extends from the outer door face diametrically'thereof for use'in manipulating the doorv withrespect to the seat '24. The present cover plate I9 has its peripheral edge vstepped from beneathto'provide'for its centered Lmounting on the topedge of thereceptacle wall f2l whilethe door I8 lis operatively'mounted Von theseat 24. v`Preferably, and as shown-the'cover plate I9 is of laminatedV structure having-an 'outer lamination |9' of metal and an inner lamination I9 of suitable heat insulation material adherent to the rst lamination; in the present instance, the plane of joining of the laminations I9 and I9." is that of the edge step of the plate. The central linger hole 20 of the cover plate extends through both laminations of the plate, and the outerface of the plate may be flush with the outer face 23 of the concrete mass inwhich the container is embedded, as shown in Figure 8.

In the embodiment of Figures l to l5 inc1usive,'the safe receptacle 51 is arranged for closing by a door 58 which is installable at the receptacle lip by reason of the fact that the lock release is provided by a key-controlled mechanism which extends entirely inwardly of the outer cover face which may therefore be disposed in flush relation with a floor or wall surface from which the safe extends, no cover plate then being needed. In the present structure, the tubular receptacle wall 6| extends integrally from an end plate 62, and has its bore stepped outwardly near its top to provide a circular seat 64 for engagement by the outer door ange 66 which extends integrally from the door body 65 having a radial iiange 51 extending integrally from the inner body end to define a groove 68 between the iianges, the door jamb thus being at the receiv ing end of the receptacle.

Lugs 1| and 12 and 13 extend inwardly from the receptacle bore portion which is at the inner side of the seat 64 and defines the access opening for the storage space of the safe, said lugs corresponding respectively in form and function to the lugs 3| and 32 and 33 of the previously described embodiment of my invention; the lug 13 provides a bolt-camming edge 13" and a boltcatching edge 13. Notches 14 and 15 and 16 in the inner cover ange 61 dene lugs 11 and 18 and 19 between them, said sets of notches and lugs corresponding in form and function to the sets of notches and lugs provided in the fiange 21 of the door |8 of the first-described embodiment. Stop pins 80 and 8| mounted in and between the outer flange 68 and the radial flange 61 of the cover limit the permitted rotation of the door 58 engaging the seat 64 to andl from its installation position. i

. lIt will be noted that the lugs 11 and 18 and 19 of the door 58 are respectively cooperative with the lugs 12 and 13 and 1| for retaining the door in closing position in the access opening until the free door is rotated to align the notches 14 and 15 and 16 with the lugs 1| and 12 and 13 respectively. It will therefore be understood that the present cooperative relation of the receptacle and door lugs is the same as that provided in the previously described embodiment of my invention.

A cylindrical latch bolt 82 extends in and from a radial socket bore 83 provided in the door body 65 between the flanges 66 and 61 of the door, and is urged to maintain a limiting outward position in the bore 83 by the action of a compression spring 84 engaged between the inner socket end and the opposed end of the bolt. Near its inner end, the bolt 82 is provided with a longitudinal slot extending diametrically through it, and said slot receives a control pin 85 which extends from an actuator arm 89 extending radially from the inner end of a key-controlled tumbler barrel 9| which extends axially through the door body in swivelled relation thereto, said pin being lfreely swingable through a slot 81 provided in the door body inwardly of and opposite the bolt-carrying bore 83. The outer end of the tumbler barrel 9| preferably extends no further than the flat outer face of the door, and is normally lheld against its rotative displacement for a withdrawing of the bolt 82 by elements (not shown) which are arranged to be rendered inoperative only by and upon the insertion of a suitable key 9| -in a complementary key-receiving slot 9|" extending axially into the tumbler barrel from its outer end. 1 l

Means are preferably provided for added protection against an unauthorized release of the door for its removal from the access opening of thevpresent safe, said means being normally operative to prevent the actuation of the keyreleased4 tumbler barrel 9| for a withdrawal of the bolt 82, and generally comprising a keycontrolled stop member which normally engages the pin 85-against its bolt-withdrawing actuation. As particularly shown, a tumbler barrel 92 extends axially through the door body 65 in appropriately spaced relation to the tumbler barrel 9|, and xedly carries a disc member 93 at its innerend and having its plane between the inner doorend and the plane of operation of the arm 86A whereby the peripheral edge 93 of thefdisc is normally engageable by the bolt-withdrawing pin 85 when -the arm 85 is freed for its operative actuation. The disc 93 is provided with a slot 93" extending radially inwardly from its periphery vand disposable to permit a bolt-withdrawing movement 'ofthe pin 85 therein. The tumblerA barrel 92 preferably extends no further than the outer face lof the door, and is arranged for its freeing only vby and upon the insertion of an appropriate key 92 in a complementary key-receiving slot 92" -extending into the tumbler barrel from its outer end.

For releasing the locked present door 58 for its removal from the laccess opening, the appropriate key 92 must first be inserted in the tumbler barrel 92 and used for turning the freed tumbler barrel to align the disc slot 93" with the slightly arcuate path of displacement of the pin 85, and the subsequent rocking of the arm 86 by means of an inserted key 9|' which has freed the tumbler barrel 9| for its turning is operative to release the door for its rotation by means of a handle 95 to the position from which it may be axially removed from the receptacle 51. lAs shown, the handle 95 comprises a U-shaped element having its side portion 95' slidable in axial holes through the door body and provided with stop elements 95 at the free ends, the cross portion 95" of the handle normally seating in a suitable depression 91 connecting said holes at the outer door face.

It will be understood that the present requirement for the use of two cooperative keys to release the actuator arm 86 for its bolt-withdrawing displacement provides an improved locking control for rotary `safe doors generally. It will also be noted that the present arrangement precludes a withdrawal of the latch bolt 82 should either or both of the key-controlled tumbler barrels 9| and 92 be rendered inoperative or be removed as by driving them inwardly. Also, the present key-controlled release of the latched door for its removal in the described manner avoids the need for a separate cover plate for the receptacle by reason of the fact that the tumbler barrels 9| and 92 do not extend beyond the outer face of the door.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the admarily illustrative, and that such changes and developments mayv be made, when desired, as-.fall within the scope of the following claims.

I 1 claim;

l. .In a safe Orvault, a body providing a receptaclehaving an access vopening defined byl` acir- -cular -jamb portion l-pmviding anoutwardly facing .door seat interiorly .of the receptacle, fixed retain- .ing lugs extending into the opening from tsside .and inwardly of the seat, a rotary door :for dis.- postal against said `seat and having retaining lugs .anda mechanism normally operatiyef-romthe outer doorrsdeior operatively actuating saidac- .tuator solelyy an authorized. .pers-ong inward. dis.- placementofthey actuator .bengoperatiye to discngage it fromthe bolt whereby the bolt will re.- :main in locking'engagement with` the receptacle.

2. A structure in.. accordance with ,cla-ini. 1

whereoi .the actuating mechanism` comprises a keyvcontrolled inem-ber `requiring the application thereto of a particular key to render it operative :for withdrawing the latch bolt- 3. A structurev in accordance ywith claim 1 whereof .the .actuating mechanism comprises a `iggycontrolled member requiring. the application thereto .of a particular .key to rend-er it operative for withdrawing the .latch bolt-,.a -5i.isplaceable stopA member normally disposed. to block. awith- :irawall of the: latchboltybytheI-.operative keycontrolled member, and. means under controlof an authorizedfperson to dispose thefstopzmember out of the latch bolt 4blocking position.

-: 4. ,Ag-.i structurek in: accordance withwclaim` 1 whereof .the said mechanism comprises arotary member .requiring a particular combination set.- ting thereof to render. it operative for effecting a withdrawal of .the ,latch bolt.

5 ln a safe or Vault, a body providing' a receptacle lhaving an access opening .defined lby a .cireularjamb portion providing an outwardly 'facing door seat intermediately of the receptacle, xedretaining lugsextending into the receptacle opening` fromi-ts sdeand inwardly of .theseat arotary` door comprising a discshaped bodyfor disposal against said seat and having retaining lugsiextendng. xedly from it .and arranged .ter

.rotation into simultaneous doop-retaining disposal inwardly of corresponding first named lugs in close -adj acency thereto a spri-ngfprfessed latch bolt-recprocably and directly carried by ,and in the door body and. normally cooperative between the door and a said jamb lug for locking the retainedfdoor against a freeing lrotation thereof with respect to the jarnb lugs.V a boltdisplacing actuator mounted on the door for rectilinear. displacement ina line parallel to the line of action of the bolt and having a portionftherecf positionel inwardly of the bolt, an actuator-fcontrol assembly carrying vthe actuator and includ-ingl a rotary member swivelled in the-door for rotation about a fixed axis transverse tothe door and arranged for actuation from the outerV door' side and connected with the actuator fory operatively displacing .the same onlrmanipulation-:by an aixthorized person,A and a pinmember carried `'by the actuator land normally `feng-aging the bolt for a Withdrawal ,of the boltv by and upon a .displaceT mentv of the actuator effectedby al rotation of the rotary member from its v normal position,- an inward displacement of the actuator being-adapted to disengage it from the bolt" While the. bolt is operative.

Y REX CAMPBELL.

References Cited in the le of this" patent UNITED STATES-PATENTS Ii'u-rrrberv Name Date' 658,645 Hough sept. 25, isoo y 1.4163179 Ehrlich May 16,1922 1,853,427 Hollister Apr. '152; 1932 1,887,866 Belknap Nov. 1 5, l1932 2.0.34;931 Vari'drlp e M911". 2&4; 19.36 

